China, Portugal sign 10 documents on cooperation
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-11 10:05

LISBON -- China and Portugal on Friday signed 10 documents on bilateral cooperation covering a variety of fields.

The documents were signed on the sidelines of a visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Portugal.

Wen, who was present at the signing ceremony together with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates, signed one of the documents --the Joint Statement on Strengthening Bilateral Relations Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal, which is meant to consolidate and strengthen an all-round strategic partnership between the two countries.

The other documents, signed by a group of Chinese and Portuguese officials, included a judiciary cooperation agreement between the two countries, and a framework agreement on the establishment of a Kunfucius institute between the education ministries of China and Portugal.

After the signing ceremony, Wen and Socrates jointly held a press conference on the cooperation between the two governments.

At the press conference, Wen stressed that the major achievement of his visit to Portugal was the signing of the Joint Statement on Strengthening Bilateral Relations Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal.

Proposing that the two countries increase high-level exchanges, Wen extended his invitation to Socrates to visit China at his convenience next year.

The Chinese premier also called for pushing forward bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, saying that the Chinese government has decided to open its market to Portugal, and to address the concern of trade deficit on the Portuguese side.

He also called for strengthening cooperation in liberal arts, such as cultural and linguistic cooperation.

Socrates echoed Wen's call, saying that there is a great potential for the Sino-Portuguese cooperation.

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